The 2014 Nissan Leaf is a pretty interesting car. It's very quiet, powered, as it is, by a little 107-horsepower electric motor up front, a motor about the size of a football. It's doing all the work, powering all the electronic aids we take for granted – heating and air conditioning, navigation, audio, and a wild array of tell-all lights and chimes.
(All photos by Michael Taylor.) less

The 2014 Nissan Leaf is a pretty interesting car. It's very quiet, powered, as it is, by a little 107-horsepower electric motor up front, a motor about the size of a football. It's doing all the work, powering ... more

The rear seating area is cramped because the heavy lithium-ion batteries are lodged under your feet. And your feet are raised up enough so that you may feel as if their knees are about to smack you in the jaw.

The rear seating area is cramped because the heavy lithium-ion batteries are lodged under your feet. And your feet are raised up enough so that you may feel as if their knees are about to smack you in the jaw.

The rear seating area is cramped because the heavy lithium-ion... Photo-6290633.85564 - NewsTimes

The Leaf is a fun little car and will do all the things a grown-up car is supposed to do. But it’s on a leash. It can only go 84 miles at a time before it has to take a minimum four-hour nap to get fully charged and ready to go.
Its closest competitor, the Chevrolet Volt, has a small gasoline engine that recharges the car’s batteries. Makes all the difference in the world. With a Volt, you can drive 300 miles, then put some more gas in the car and keep going. less

The Leaf is a fun little car and will do all the things a grown-up car is supposed to do. But it’s on a leash. It can only go 84 miles at a time before it has to take a minimum four-hour nap to get fully ... more

The Leaf is a fun little car and will do all the things a grown-up... Photo-6290635.85564 - NewsTimes

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The Leaf gets what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls an equivalent mileage rating of 114 mpg.

The Leaf gets what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls an equivalent mileage rating of 114 mpg.

The Leaf gets what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls... Photo-6290636.85564 - NewsTimes

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The small gear shifter knob mounted on the center console gives you R (reverse), P (park) and D (drive). No paddle shifting, no low gear. No fancy stuff.

The small gear shifter knob mounted on the center console gives you R (reverse), P (park) and D (drive). No paddle shifting, no low gear. No fancy stuff.

The main things to watch are the lithium-ion battery temperature gauge on the left and the “fuel” gauge on the right. That meter looks like a normal car’s fuel gauge and gives you a digital readout of how many miles to go before it’s time for a charge. less

The main things to watch are the lithium-ion battery temperature gauge on the left and the “fuel” gauge on the right. That meter looks like a normal car’s fuel gauge and gives you a digital readout of ... more

The main things to watch are the lithium-ion battery temperature... Photo-6290638.85564 - NewsTimes

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The A-pillar in the Leaf is pretty thick and, at times, can obscure the driver's view, particularly when a pedestrian is in a crosswalk.

The A-pillar in the Leaf is pretty thick and, at times, can obscure the driver's view, particularly when a pedestrian is in a crosswalk.

The A-pillar in the Leaf is pretty thick and, at times, can obscure... Photo-6290639.85564 - NewsTimes

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Our test car was priced at $37,090, with an option package that includes a snazzy audio system.
But these prices are greatly reduced through a combination of rebates and tax credits. Off the top, there’s a $7,500 federal tax credit. Various states offer rebates of up to $6,000. In California, the state rebate is $2,500. less

Our test car was priced at $37,090, with an option package that includes a snazzy audio system.
But these prices are greatly reduced through a combination of rebates and tax credits. Off the top, there’s a ... more